It's been some time since I was active in this space. True to form, whilst some friends are starting to retire I am just about getting going with something like paid work (quite a lot of it, long hours, many night shifts). This means being indoors and/or asleep far too much so for this and other reasons the wonderful daughter and I are aiming to complete the Dundee Kiltwalk in mid August. Some of you outwith Scotland might be wondering what the hell a Kiltwalk is (Kiltwalks are a set of annual long fundraising walks at various Scottish locations, first one back in 2016). As you might imagine, lots of people do wear kilts to take part but I don't think I will be one of those (I might manage a tartan scarf). Last year we just happened to be in town when the Dundee one was finishing and it was a great atmosphere. This year we are taking part in the Mighty Stride part of the Dundee Kiltwalk which is 20 miles (there is also a Wee Wander which is 4 miles). We are raising money for the Turner Syndrome Support Society and our fundraising page is here. I have posted some of today's pics elsewhere already but I thought I'd stick them up here as a record as well.
Because I'm not as walking fit as I have been (no dog any more you see...) I have been getting some practice in. My first stretch was a version of the Wee Wander (Dundee to Broughty Ferry, the Wee Wander in reverse in fact). It was a boiling hot day earlier in June and I rediscovered the joy of a sweaty rucksack sticking to your back but it was beautiful all the same. I ended up at Broughty Ferry beach (see pic at top of post) and along the way I saw this view (I never get tired of the Tay):
Then last weekend I decided it was time to push a bit harder. On another boiling hot day I got dropped at Dundee Sailing and Rowing Club by him outdoors and I walked part of the Dundee Green Circular (more usually a bike route). I walked this:
It took a good few hours and I did about 12 miles (I don't wear any kind of clever watch or anything that counts my steps and all that - quite enough technology in my life already). I've been meaning to do the trip along the Dighty Burn for years but finally managed to do this section. Some views along the way were:
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I got a bus home, a shower, a collapse and then back to the Ferry for some lovely music in the evening, courtesy of the band Outliers and local promoters Hypercoaster Music. The album Outliers is one of my favourites of the past year or so - a good one for late nights, can't-sleep-nights and early mornings. And I'll close this post out with one of their songs Salvage, written about artist Helen Denerley:
